Case Studies and Examples

The case studies highlight how local governments, non-profits,
community organizations, and the private sector are responding to
climate change. New case studies will be added periodically. Use
the submission form below to recommend an innovative effort that
should be included.

Challenges and Solutions

The case studies are organized by solutions that practitioners are
finding to a common set of challenges in adaptation. These challenges
span the spectrum of community planning to project implementation.

In addition to the case studies developed by OPR staff, the
Clearinghouse includes case studies from the Ocean Protection
Council, the Local Government Commission’s CivicSpark program,
CalTrans’ SB1 Adaptation Planning grantees, and more.

Other Examples

Find more case studies and examples on the following sites:

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research has many ongoing partnerships and programs to produce case studies of replicable best practices, some of which are highlighted in the Best Practice Pilot Program. The office is currently collecting a variety of case studies that will be updated on an ongoing basis.

The Georgetown Adaptation Clearinghouse provides resources that help policymakers at all levels of governments reduce or avoid the impacts of climate change to communities in the United States. The Adaptation Clearinghouse focuses on climate change impacts that adversely affect people and our built environment. Content focal areas include the water, coastal, transportation, infrastructure and public health sectors, and adaptation planning, policies, laws, and governance.

The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKEX) aims to build a shared knowledge base for managing natural and built systems in the face of rapid climate change. Just as importantly, it is intended to help build an innovative community of practice. It helps users to find appropriate resources quickly by vetting and clearly organizing the best information available, building a community via an interactive online platform, creating a directory of practitioners to share knowledge and strategies, an identifying and explaining data tools and information available from other sites. CakeX consists of case studies, a virtual library, directory and tools and houses a variety of community forums for the discussion of current issues in climate adaptation.

The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit is a website designed to help people find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience, offering information from all across the U.S. federal government in one easy-to-use location. The goal of the Toolkit is to improve people’s ability to understand and manage their climate-related risks and opportunities, and to help them make their communities and businesses more resilient to extreme events. Visit their easy-to-use case studies page to filter by threat/stressor, topic, region, and steps to resilience.

The Local Government Commission works to build livable communities and local leadership by connecting leaders via innovative programs and network opportunities, advancing policies through participation at the local and state level, and implementing solutions as technical assistance provider to local jurisdictions. LGC is an active leader in California climate adaptation by playing an active partnership role in the Alliance for Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA), administering the Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program, CivicSpark , and much more. Visit their climate change resources page or browse current CivicSpark projects taking place throughout the state to stay up to date on some of their adaptation and resilience-focused work.

The Institute for Local Government has a number of adaptation resources including case studies of climate adaptation plans in California to showcase the variety of formats adaptation planning can take and the many levels and forms of government that can make it happen. Local actions being taken in California through policy and program initiatives. Through the GIS map, click on any local government to see the work they are doing on climate change.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Wildfire

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. This example highlights a state and local partnership to remove roof wood shingles from high-risk structures for wildfire.

Local Government Commission; City of Fresno; Fresno Metro Ministry; CALSTART. 2018

Case Study

Energize Fresno is a new initiative to develop a blueprint for an “Energy Opportunity Zone” in a focused area in Fresno. Energize Fresno will catalyze innovation in advanced energy infrastructure while also reducing costs for residents … and businesses on energy, identifying funding opportunities, improving health for the local community, and creating new economic opportunities. Ultimately, the blueprint will become a model for other communities across the state that can be replicated, promoting further investments and awareness of advanced energy technologies.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. 2018

Extreme heat

Case Study

The Los Angeles County Climate Committee employed a consensus-oriented decision-making process and continual feedback from its member departments to craft a suite of strategies aimed at reducing the urban heat island effect. The result aims … to be an action-oriented, practical plan that provides a blueprint for how County departments can work together to reduce Los Angeles County’s urban heat island effect. The Urban Heat Island Reduction Plan (Plan) outlines four strategies for addressing the urban heat island: Cool Roofs, Trees, Green Space, and Cool and Permeable Pavements.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Wildfire

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. This example highlights combatting tree mortality in the Sierra Nevada mountains by removing dead trees, improving forest health and removing public safety hazards.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Extreme storms

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. This example highlights energy efficiency updates in a school district, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also preparing for energy demands during extreme climate and weather events.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Wildfire

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. Showcased in this example are the efforts of a partnership to reduce fire fuel load in Lake Theodore, a high priority fire prevention location.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Snowpack

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. This example showcases a local school that renovated its roof to be better prepared for increased snow accumulation and winter extreme weather.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Wildfire

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. This example demonstrates a partnership effort, funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to reforest after the King Fire of 2014.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Extreme heat

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector.

California Natural Resources Agency. 2018

Drought

Project or Example

California state agencies collaborated to compile each of these examples, associated with Safeguarding California's 2018 update, to show how California is preparing for and adjusting to various extreme events brought on by climate change. … Each of these examples highlights unique strategies, funded by the state, to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. The examples are tagged with icons from the Safeguarding California Report, classifying stories by sector. In this example, water efficiency was improved in Madera County, to ultimately conserve landscape irrigation water and build resilience to drought and water scarcity.